ir a comer
/iɾ a komeɾ/from spelling rules
The English phrase "go to eat" is translated into Spanish as ir a comer.
ir a comer means "to go to eat" or "to go for lunch". In many Spanish-speaking cultures, this phrase often specifically refers to the act of going to have the midday meal (lunch) rather than just any snack or dinner.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb ir (to go), the preposition a (to) and the infinitive comer (to eat).
How does it change in a sentence?
To express "I am going to eat", you conjugate the verb ir to the first-person singular voy while keeping the rest of the phrase the same: voy a comer. To express "we are going to eat", you conjugate the verb ir to the first-person plural vamos while keeping the rest of the phrase the same: vamos a comer.
How do you pronounce it?
/iɾ a komeɾ/
When do people say it?
Vamos a comer algo is an informal way to suggest grabbing a bite to eat with friends or family. Additionally, Hagamos una comida can be used in a group setting to propose having a meal together.
Did you know?
- The verb ir is a linguistic patchwork. The 'I go' form voy comes from the Latin 'vādere' whereas the 'I went' form fui actually comes from the Latin verb for 'to be'.
- In Spain, the act of ir a comer usually happens much later than in English-speaking countries, often between 2 pm and 4 pm.
- In many Latin American countries, if someone invites you to ir a comer, they are often proposing a long, social event rather than a quick bite.
Examples in context
- ¡Oye, vamos a comer algo! Tengo antojo de tacosHey, let's go eat something! I'm craving tacos
- Tengo que ir a comer algo.I have to go to eat something.
- ¿Quieres ir a comer conmigo?Do you want to go to eat with me?
Example conversation
Two friends are talking at the office during lunch break.
- ElenaDaniel, ya es la una. ¿Vamos a ir a comer?Daniel, it's already one o'clock. Shall we go to eat?
- DanielSí, Elena. Tengo mucha hambre.Yes, Elena. I am very hungry.
- Elena¿Adónde quieres ir a comer hoy?Where do you want to go to eat today?
- DanielPodemos ir al restaurante de la esquina.We can go to the restaurant on the corner.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, comer, ir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
